Charlie Barrett, Travel Editor, Cable Radio Network
This book is a must for any traveler--full of invaluable information and tips.
JohnnyJet.com
Joel teaches you some of the best secrets to traveling with Travel Tips you can really use.
Randy Curwen, Travel Editor, Chicago Tribune
It's nice to see advice on how to travel inexpensively in style that doesn't make you feel cheap.
Richard Woulfe, Cruise Marketing Group
An indispensable resource for getting more luxury for less when you travel.
Book Description
Although its emphasis is on getting a good deal, this no-nonsense guide steers people firmly away from no-frills travel and points them toward the wonders of first-class accommodations and preferential treatment. Readers will acquire an intimate knowledge of the art of luxury travel: how and when to visit the most desirable destinations; the role frequent-user programs play; the importance of building long-term relationships with elite travel companies; avoiding scams; and finding shortcuts through the labyrinth of airline and hotel rules. The result? Exceptional service and amenities, hotel and airline upgrades, and the sense of empowerment and freedom that comes from avoiding inhospitable employees and the annoying hassles regularly inflicted on the masses. Written in a refreshingly down-to-earth style, the book explains exactly what to do and how to do it, and is filled with engaging true-life travel anecdotes. Appendices list important phone numbers and websites, and compare major frequent-user programs.
About the Author
Joel Widzer's travels have taken him to more than thirty-four countries, logging over 125,000 air miles a year, and accumulating more than 2 million frequent-flyer miles. Joel has developed the unique ability to approach travel from the point of view of a consumer as well as from a business prospective. He regularly speaks to travelers and business people, sharing the secrets of crisscrossing the world in luxury while paying coach prices. A sought-after speaker and media presence, Joel's innovative approach to travel has received extensive media coverage. He has appeared on CBS, NBC, and ABC networks, Channel, CNN, Inside Edition, and in print media including USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. Joel holds a doctoral degree in the field of industrial organizational psychology. When Joel is not off on one of his many global journeys, he can be found sailing his boat or flying as an instrument-rated pilot. Joel is based in Southern California, where he lives with his family.
The Penny Pincher's Passport to Luxury Travel: The Art of Cultivating Preferred Customer Status FROM THE PUBLISHER
This is the first book ever to reveal the secret strategies of experiencing
the world of luxury travel at a fraction of the usual cost. Discover, step
by step, how to: travel first-class while paying discount prices, obtain
luxury service, travel to the most desirable destinations, use
frequent-flyer programs to open the door to luxury travel, build long-term
relationships with distinguished travel companies, and cut through the
confusing array of rate structures, restrictions, booking options, and
numerous frequent-user programs.
FROM THE CRITICS
Library Journal
Widzer believes in traveling in style but without paying luxury rates. He manages to achieve this using his travel experience (he flies at least 100,000 air miles each year) and his knowledge of the travel industry. By carefully maintaining customer loyalty and by knowing exactly who, how, and when to ask, Widzer manages to get much more than he pays for. Here he explains how. Arranged topically in ten chapters, clear explanations with examples detail how to leverage customer loyalty and travel mishaps. Examples and strategies attempt to cover all types of travelers, from very frequent to infrequent, but are more effective for frequent travelers. Customer service providers may find this interesting as an analysis of what quality really means to a customer. Purchase for larger public libraries.--Alison Hopkins, Queens Borough P.L., Briarwood, NY